Chrysanthemum plant named Venture

ABSTRACT

A chrysanthemum plant named Venture having flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; deep yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 65 to 75 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days; tall plant height when grown single stem; 12 to 15 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays; and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowring buds.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofChrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Venture.

Venture is a product of a planned breeding program which had theobjective of creating new chrysanthemum cultivars having low temperaturetolerance for cut spray mum programs with decorative capitulum type,yellow ray floret color, nine week flowering response, and the abilityto produce commercially acceptable quality in year round programs. Suchtraits in combination were not present or needed improvement inpreviously available commercial cultivars.

Venture was originated from a cross made in a controlled breedingprogram in Salinas, Calif. in 1978. The female parent was identified as7030220, an unnamed light bronze decorative seedling originated from ahybridization of Solorama, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,673, andan unnamed seedling. The male parent of Venture was identified as761881, an unnamed bronze decorative seedling originated from a crossbetween two unnamed seedlings.

Venture was discovered and selected as one flowering plant within theprogeny of the stated cross by William E. Duffett on Sept. 9, 1979 in acontrolled environment in Salinas, Calif.

The first act of asexual reproduction of Venture was accomplished whenvegetative cuttings were taken from the initial selection in December1979 in a controlled environment in Salinas, Calif. by a technicianworking under formulations established and supervised by William E.Duffett.

Horticultural examination of selected units initiated June 1980 hasdemonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosedfor Venture are firmly fixed and are retained through successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

Venture has not been observed under all possible environmentalconditions. The phenotype may vary significantly with variations inenvironment such as temperature, light intensity, and day length. Thefollowing observations, measurements and comparisons describe plantsgrown in Salinas, Calif. and Leamington, Canada under greenhouseconditions which approximate those generally used in commercialpractice.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined tobe basic characteristics of Venture which in combination distinguishthis chrysanthemum as a new and distinct cultivar:

(1) Flat capitulum form;

(2) Decorative capitulum type;

(3) Deep yellow ray floret color with minimal color oxidation;

(4) Diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 65 to 75 mm. atmaturity;

(5) Uniform nine week photoperiodic flowering response to short days;

(6) Medium peduncle length, ranging from 12 to 15 cm.;

(7) Tall plant height, requiring 1-2 long day weeks prior to short daysto attain a flowered plant height of 80 to 90 cm. for May throughOctober flowerings; and

(8) Low temperature tolerance of 13° C. (55° F.) for initiation anddevelopment when grown in single stem cut spray programs with acontinuous dark period of 13 to 14 hours.

The accompanying photographic drawings show typical inflorescence andfoliage characteristics of Venture, with the colors being as nearly trueas possible with illustrations of this type. Sheet 1 is a colorphotograph of Venture grown as a single stem cut spray. Sheet 2 is ablack and white photograph of three views of the inflorescence ofVenture. Sheet 3 is a black and white photograph showing the leaves ofVenture at three stages of development (mature, intermediate, immature).

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the mostsimilar in comparison to Venture is the unpatented cultivar GoldenPolaris. Reference is made to attached Chart A which compares certaincharacteristics of Venture to those same characteristics of GoldenPolaris.

In comparison to Golden Polaris, Venture has deeper yellow ray floretcolor, with a slower rate of oxidation; its spray formation is generallyterminal and similar to Golden Polaris, with shorter peduncles; it has asimilar diameter across the face of the capitulum, and an improvedtolerance of 13° C. temperature which results in a faster floweringresponse of approximately one week during fall, winter and spring.

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart. The color values were determinedbetween 2:15 P.M. and 2:30 P.M. on Aug. 10, 1982 under 150 foot-candlelight intensity at Salinas, Calif.

CLASSIFICATION

Botanical: Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., cv Venture.

Commercial: Spray decorative cut mum.

INFLORESCENCE

Capitulum:

Form.--Flat.

Type.--Decorative.

Diameter across face.--65 To 75 mm.

Corolla of ray florets:

Color (general tonality from a distance of three meters).--Deep yellow.

Color (abaxial).--9A.

Color (adaxial).--8B.

Shape.--Narrow. Oblong with rounded tip.

Corolla of disc florets:

Color (mature).--7A.

Color (immature).--154B.

Reproductive organ:

Androecium.--Present disc florets only; scant pollen.

Gynoecium.--Present both ray and disc florets.

PLANT

General appearance:

Height.--Tall, 80 to 90 cm., as a flowering plant from a rooted cutting,with 7 to 14 long days for May through October flowerings andmaintaining a minimum nightly 13 to 14 hour continuous dark period.

Foliage:

Color (abaxial).--147A.

Color (adaxial).--147B.

Shape.--Deeply lobed and coarsely serrated.

                  CHART A                                                         ______________________________________                                        COMPARISON OF VENTURE AND GOLDEN POLARIS                                      ______________________________________                                                 RAY       CAPITULUM                                                           FLORET    FORM          SPRAY                                        CULTIVAR COLOR     AND TYPE      FORMATION                                    ______________________________________                                        VENTURE  DEEP      FLAT          TERMINAL                                              YELLOW    DECORATIVE    12 to 15 cm.                                                                  PEDUNCLES                                    GOLDEN   MEDIUM    FLAT          TERMINAL                                     POLARIS  YELLOW    DECORATIVE    15 to 20 cm.                                                                  PEDUNCLES                                    ______________________________________                                                 DIAMETER                FLOWERING                                             ACROSS FACE   PLANT     RESPONSE                                     CULTIVAR OF CAPITULUM  HEIGHT    PERIOD                                       ______________________________________                                        VENTURE  65 to 75 mm.  80 to     9 WEEKS                                                             90 cm.                                                 GOLDEN   65 to 75 mm.  80 to     9 to 10                                      POLARIS                90 cm.    WEEKS                                        ______________________________________                                        COMPARISONS MADE OF PLANTS GROWN AS SINGLE                                    STEM SPRAY CUT MUMS WITH 7 LONG                                               DAYS IN SALINAS, CALIFORNIA                                                   ______________________________________                                    

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct plant of Chrysanthemum morifolium, Ramat., named Venture, as described and illustrated, and particularly characterized as to uniqueness by the combined characteristics of flat capitulum form; decorative capitulum type; deep yellow ray floret color; diameter across face of capitulum ranging from 65 to 75 mm. at maturity; uniform nine week flowering response; tall plant height when grown single stem; 12 to 15 cm. peduncles on open, normally terminal sprays, and 13° C. minimum temperature tolerance for initiation and development of flowering buds. 